Liam Keen comment: Wolves' injury nightmare creates opportunities for others

The New Year has begun with a loss and Wolves still have plenty to do to ensure they survive relegation this season.

Losing to in-form Nottingham Forest was telling for a number of reasons, as Wolves battle at the bottom of the table.

Injury nightmare

Wolves' performance on Monday night must be put into context when considering the players Pereira had available.

A hamstring injury to Nelson Semedo and a calf injury to Craig Dawson - both of which are not believed to be serious - meant Wolves' back line was depleted further following the injury to Toti Gomes and the season-ending knee injury to Yerson Mosquera.

Add in Andre missing the game to tend to a family matter, and Matheus Cunha's ban, and Wolves were very light at Molineux.

They were forced to name 16-year-old Wes Okoduwa on the bench and 18-year-old Pedro Lima in the starting XI as they aimed to navigate a tricky fixture.

Pereira and Wolves must be given some leeway when analysing the performance and result, by taking into account the mounting injuries on an unbalanced squad that is desperate for additions this month.

However, considering the opportunities they had to score and the nature of the goals they gave away, it is still a frustrating result.

Forest did not have to be outstanding to win, while Wolves gave away easy goals with several avoidable mistakes.

The first loss under Pereira was always going to come and it is now about how Wolves respond to that.

Impressive performers

With injuries come opportunities for others to stake their claim and two players in particular did no harm to their reputation.

Lima signed in the summer after a high-profile battle with Chelsea in which Wolves hijacked the deal to bring in the promising Brazilian defender.

He then shone in pre-season but was given time in 2024 to adjust to his new surroundings and the demands of the Premier League, featuring just twice under Gary O'Neil in the Carabao Cup.

But as 2025 got under way Pereira had little choice but to throw the teenager into top flight action.

It was not an outstanding performance, but the biggest compliment you can give him is that he looked comfortable and at home in the Premier League.

It was a mature display offering plenty of promise, alongside some excellent crosses. 

He has a lot to improve but he has the natural physicality needed and in the top flight that sets you up for success if you can build everything else around it.

On the other flank, Wolves' best player on the night was Rodrigo Gomes.

The summer signing started the first game under Pereira and scored his first top flight goal before, understandably, losing his place again to Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Back in the starting XI R.Gomes certainly took his chance with a performance that was remarkably energetic, full of attacking threat and with quality deliveries into the box.

He also needs time to improve, but he is an exciting talent.

Cunha's importance

Cunha was always going to be a big miss in this game, as he served the first of his two-match ban.

In a match where Wolves missed several big chances, Cunha could have been the difference between losing the game and picking up at least a point.

It is fortunate for Wolves that he now only misses the FA Cup third-round tie at Bristol City this weekend before returning for the league game at Newcastle, but Wolves still need their other attacking players to step up, particularly if Cunha was to pick up any sort of injury.

Jorgen Strand Larsen missed a hatful of chances against Forest, two of which a player of his quality should score, while fellow starters Goncalo Guedes and Hwang Hee-chan had quiet evenings.

Off the bench, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde struggled for any impact while Pablo Sarabia and Carlos Forbs offer very little.

Wolves are too reliant on Cunha and in the short-term others must step up, while in the long-term the club must balance the squad to ensure their season does not rest on one player.

He is magnificent, is in talks to sign a new contract at Wolves but could yet leave in the summer with lots of clubs interested in him. Wolves must be prepared for that.